Electric gasoline gauge



jam" 6, W25}, 3195229355 E. F. WENTERHQFF I ELECTRIC GASOLINE GAUGE Filed Feb. 28, 1922" 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES I INVENTOR WM lili'lfmkrfioff AQZZ BY A TTORNEYS IS. F. WENTERHQFF ELECTRIC GASOLINE GAUGE.

Jan, 6, 1 925.

, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 V INVENTOR ATTORNEYS WITNESSES B. F. WfiNTERHOFF ELECTRIC GASOLINE GAUGE Filed Feb: 28, 1922 3 Sheets-Shet 3 A TTORNEYS trated in Figure t a resident of Elkhart, in the county {of Elk- Patentefl Jan 6, 159250 BENZFA'MH WMFEEEELEE, Q2?

F E-L G QLETE hpplication filed February 223, 832. Serial 3 E-QLCi S.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN Wmrnnnorrya citizen of the Unitecl Sta es, anti hart and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Electric GasolineiGa-uge, of which the following is a full, clear, anel exact description. v

This invention relates to gauges for tanks and particularly to an improved. gauge for gasoline tanks ,used on automobiles other places wherein means are presented which will not only show the level of gasorgnra ll is a fragmentary sitie vie o" the gear 8L bracket anti asparts sho in Figure 1. he ace-snipe nations have been shown same principle of operated by float and line ata point near the tank hut also ive connected some form of indicatin v b E g the same information at a point olistant ion" 5; rover or the gasotroin the tank. L H

Another'oloject in iviewis to provide a gauge for gasoline tanks for automohiies or other gasoline tanks for other purposes which has an electric connection operable the gasoline level varies, the arrangement being such that the indicator maybe positioned at any desired point regardless of the location of the tank,

A still further object of the invent V to provide an electrically operateti ino ioat-. ing gauge for gasoline tanks wherein dial may he arrangeol at any point and rheostat is arranged to be operaterl by aw float in the tank so as to vary the elee 7 action controlling the indications In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary section through a tank and a gauge disclosr embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing a 1'' structure in connection with an elect operated instrument'ot the volt-meter Uy' oe.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan or 'the structure shown in igure Fi 'ure a is a view similar to but s owing a modified structure.

Figure 5 is a view similar to figure showing the wiring and other features illusor wherever deticnlarly adapted for n automobiles.

I 3 is seen a preterre tes a of any s; This tank is ero- 2 over which a eas- This casing is proviaecl e 4- a tube 5 is saic'i tube car- L3 connected to the stub afloat 1th A also seeureci tothe sire s with pinion 12 seen h shah enteritis anti through a T 13 as well as :entact with the contact est a circie anol which, Figure 6 is a fragmentary view similar to complete circle. The Figure 4- hut showing a slight modified structure, r

Figure 7 is'a view similar to Figure Shut showing a different form of 'noechanisni clesigned to accomplish the same result, 7 V

Figure 8 is a top plan view or? the structure shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional vice through Figure 7 on linear-9,

loves over various posts 22,

1-" stance so at as the arm 18 moves n Figure 2, the resistdrawings, a ntmaher' es 3; finer contact 19:16am 1 comparatively long 1 structure may he 1 the 5 32 is arranged; any suit=,

from a suitable source 24 is provided, said source being connected through wire 25 to the last contact post 22 while a wire 26 is connected to the contact plate "'20 and also toan instrument 27. The wire 28 is connected to the source 24 and also to the instrument27 whereby whenever there is current flowing from the surce 24, it will pass through the instrument 27 for effecting the pointer 27 and cause the same to move to a;

' certain extent over the graduations 29,. This be properly calibratedin respect to the con tact post 22, the float l0 and associated parts.

When the level of liquid in the tank 1 moves downwardly, the. float, will conse- .quently move downwardly and will cause move back to the indication a rotation otarm l8 towardthe left as shown in Figure 2. As the'parts are shown in the drawingfthe. pointer 27 will, gradually 5 move over toward the indication zero as the 1 level of liquid in "the tank becomes'lower and lower. When. the tank is filled the float will risefand the'pointer 27 will gradually that the tank is full.

In Figures 4 and 5 will beseen .a modified structure in which ap'ermanent mcmber or open ended ca w'ell as'with small openings forrecciving the pins'32 earriedby the splash plate 33. This plate prevents the splashing of liquid into thebbmpartment 34 formed by the removable cap 35 which may lee-fastened in place in any suitable manner, as for'instance, by merely tightly fitting over part of the cap 30. In this form of the invention a suitable-frame or housing 36 is provided for carrying the ,diflerent resistance coils 37 which coils'are connected to the respective contact heads 38. These heads are all arranged above the frame or housing 36 and consequentl will be out of the way ot'any possible sp ashing of liquid through the opening 39, which opening accommodates the shaft 7. An, auxiliary splash plate40 is provided though ordinarily this is not necessary. The cap 35 carries an ordinary electric socket 41 of any suitable kind, said socket having oneside engaging thecontact bracket 42 which is secured to the binding post 43 While the opposite contact is connected in any suitable manner with the pivotal point or pin 44 carrying the contact arm 45. This arm carries a contact brush or plate 46 adapted to remain in engagement with one of the heads 38 at all times whereby sparking is eliminated as the voltage in the device is usually very low; Any suitable indicating 30 is connected to the tank 1 and is provi ed with a large opening 31 as electric plug may be fitted into the socket 41 :for forming a connection and when so fitted thewires 47 and 48 in the plug are designed toextend'to theposts 49 and 50 of' the indicating instrument 51,v a suitable source of current 52 being interposed in one.

of these wires. The instrument 51 may be any suitable magnetically operated mechanism. as for instance, a volt-meter with suitable calibrations and legends to agree with the rheostat formed by the coils 37 and 'associatedparts shown in Figure 5.. This wherever it is desired where the device is used in connection, with other devices.

In the preferred structure shownin Fig-. I

' ure lfmeans are providedfor indicating at a distance the level of gasoline in tank 1 and also means are provlded for indicating at the tank the level of liquid therein.

In Figure 6 a slightly modified form is shown to that illustrated in Figure 4 whereinthe arm 45 is arranged beneath the various resistancecoils 37 and is arranged to prcss'upwardly against the various contact heads 38. i

.In Figures 7, Sand the shaft 7 carries a gear wheel 52 meshin with a rack 53 and acts to move the me longitudinally when operated, This rack is slidingly mounted in brackets 54, which brackets are insulated from the surrounding parts. The gear wheel 52 is alsoinsulated from the shaft 7 sothat current passing from wire onto one of the supports 54 will electrically charge the rack 53. This- 9 an additional modi-- -tication of the invention is shown wherein ioo The wires 55 and 59 extend to an instrument 60 similar to instrument '51 while a suitable source of current. 62 is interposed in wire 55. In this form of the invention the 'power from the shaft Tis utilized for chan ng the resistance in the circuit of'th'e in? 'slidingly extends through a plate 67 as Well as a suitable opening in plate 68. A contact shoe 69 is carried by the arm 66 but insulated therefrom, said contact plate being also connected to the source of current 70- by icatin'g instrument 60 and thereby causing. a proper tion of a casing, a circular row of spacedtacts, a'pivotally mounted arm for travers-' shown in Figure 9.

sas es :3

wire 71. A rheostat 72 similar to the rheosubstantially annular contact member, stat shown in Figure 9 is carried by the an elongated shoe co-operating with said plate 68 and is connected with the. wire 73 post and always in engagement with one of which wire, in turn is connected to the inthe, posts, a second shoe co-operating with strument 74 which instrument is similar to said contact member, means for electrically the instrumentsv27', 51 and 60. A wire or and mechanically connecting said shoes, a conductor 75 connects the source of curshaft for moving said means,and means for rent 70 and instrument 74 for completing actuating said shaft. j I Y the circuit. This construction provides a 3. In an electric indicator, the combinadirect operation of the shoe 69 in connection .tion of a casing, with the rheostat 72 -instead of through contacts arranged within the casing, resista rotating arm or through the rack and gear ance elements connecting said contacts, a second contact elementarranged within said l/Vhat I claim is 1. In an electric indicator, the combin'anected to one end of the circular row of concontacts arranged within the casing, reing simultaneously said circular row of sistance elements' connecting said contacts, a spaced contacts and said inner contact, an substantially'annular contact member ar-- independent wiping shoe on said arm for rangedwitliin said circular row, 'Of'OOl'l 's'aid circular row of contacts and for said tacts, aleadconnected-to one end of the cirinner contact, a second lead connected to cular 'rowof contacts, a pivotally mounted said inner contact, a rod adapted to extend arm for traverslng simultaneously said c1rlntoa tank secured to'saidarm, a float ara circular row of spaced circular row of spacedbconta'cts, a lead concularrow of spaced contacts and said sub- ,ranged in said tank, and 'bevel gears for stantially' annular contact member, an intransmitting power from said float tosaid dependent wiping contact shoe on the said rod. p armel or-w said circular row of contacts and A,, In an electricindicator, the combinasaid substantially annular contact member tion of a rheostat having a swinging arm, a respectively for engaging respectively-said shaft adapted to extend into a tank and circular row of contacts andsaid substanrigidly secured to said arm, a bevel gear tially annular contact member, a second lead connected with said shaft, a' second bevel arm on its pivotal support.

connected to said substantially annular congear meshing with the first mentioned bevel tact member, and means for movlngsald, gear, an arm secured to said second memtioned bevel 'gear fan d a float con- 2. In anelectric indicator, the combina nected'with said. arm, said float beingadaptposts arranged tank whereby said bevel gears are rotated in the arc of a circle of larger diameter than as the liquid moves upwardly or downsaid contact member, aresistance elewardly and consequently power istrans 'tion of a substantially annular contact ed to be acted on by the-liquid in the member, a series of contact ment connecting said contact posts, a mitted to said first mentioned arm for vary- ].ead connected to one of the end contact ing the action-of the rheostat. posts, a second lead connected to said vBENJAMIN WINTERHOFF. 

